Maybe you’re living on your own for the first time, teaching your kids to cook, or simply want to get into kitchen work yourself. Whatever the reason, if you’re new to the kitchen it’s important to design it according to your needs. Many design ideas for kitchens are made for experienced homemakers or even professionals, but few are made to suit first-time cooks. In most cases you’ll have to make some adjustments yourselves. But that doesn’t mean it’s difficult—in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Think of it as a chance to get a little creative.
From choosing your appliances to stocking up on groceries, there are lots of options involved in designing a beginner’s kitchen. Sure, you can go the easy way and get one of those starter kits, but those are hardly worth the hype. When you’re starting out, you’ll want your kitchen to be tailor-made for your cooking style, but also able to adapt as you get more experienced. Take your time and think about which items you really need and which ones can wait. Get started with this simple buying guide.
Start small.
Kitchen beginners usually start with small meals, so you don’t really need a big kitchen at first. In fact, small kitchens have some unique advantages specifically for first-time cooks. For one thing, the limited workspace helps you keep everything close by, so you don’t have to walk across the room all the time. It’s also easier to find items in storage, which can come in handy if you’re still getting used to the place. Although you’ll be limited by the size of the room itself, keeping everything close can help you work better.
Small doesn’t necessarily mean less, of course. The key is to compensate for size with quality items and good layout. If you’re starting with a blank room, take time to plan out your kitchen and decide which goes where. For example, you may want to put the stove where there’s more ventilation, or place a counter in an L-shaped corner so you can maximize the space.
Install safety features.
The kitchen is an accident-prone area, and when you’re a beginner, you don’t want to take any chances. Before going into aesthetics, make sure your kitchen is a safe place to work. Safety in the kitchen is all about anticipating mistakes and designing the space to accommodate them. For starters, you may want a heat-resistant countertop, or at least a counter cover, in case you accidentally put hot pans on it. Always keep an absorbent rag handy so you can wipe up spills as soon as possible.
It’s especially important to guard against fire, the biggest hazard in home kitchens. When planning your layout, make sure that potential fire sources (hobs, cookers or ovens) are kept well away from doors and windows that could facilitate their spread. If the cooker is next to a window, make sure there are no curtains or blinds that can catch fire. And unless your room is well ventilated, the stove and fridge should be separated—the heat can affect the fridge temperatures and spoil your food.
Invest in quality cookware.
Most people think you don’t need expensive cookware if you’re a beginner, but that’s only partly true. Sure, you probably won’t need an industrial-grade oven or designer bowls, but you want them to be of decent quality. At the very least, they’ll need to stand up to regular use if you plan on practicing every day. So while you don’t have to overspend on cookware, it pays to invest in quality and take your time to choose pieces that last.
Your best bet is to get something from the mid-end shelf, strong enough to last a while but not loaded with unnecessary features. Choose the material of the cookware carefully. Stainless steel is the most popular choice because it’s cheap and durable, and it’s usually good enough for everyday use. But you can also consider glass and ceramic, which require more care but are much more energy-efficient. It all comes down to what you need and how much you can afford to spare for it.
Use smart lighting.
One of the most overlooked aspects of home design is the lighting design for kitchens. It’s not enough to install an overhead light for the entire room, although that’s certainly more practical. Good kitchen lighting involves at least two levels of light, ambient and task lighting. Ambient lighting is the general light source that illuminates the entire space, while task lighting is focused on more work-intense areas like the sink and stove.
Task lighting is especially important because it affects the way you work. Make sure it keeps everything on your workspace visible, including the small corners which tend to be neglected. You may also want to install lighting inside cabinets if they’re in secluded corners, or use separate switches so you can light individual areas of the kitchen.
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